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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInside the Minds of Hardcore Trump Supporters
A second recently published study provides an answer: There are different strains of authoritarian thinking. And support for Trump is associated with what is arguably the most toxic type: authoritarian aggression.
The study suggests the bulk of his supporters, at least in the Republican primaries, were not old-fashioned conservatives who preach obedience and respect for authority. Rather, they were people who take a belligerent, combative approach toward people they find threatening.
The notion that there are different types of authoritarians was proposed in the 1980s by University of Manitoba psychologist Robert Altemeyer, and refined in 2010 by a research team led by John Duckitt of the University of Auckland. In the journal Political Psychology, that team defined right-wing authoritarianism as "a set of three related ideological attitude dimensions."
They are:
"Conventionalism," a.k.a. "traditionalism," which is defined as "favoring traditional, old-fashioned social norms, values, and morality."
Authoritarian submission," defined as "favoring uncritical, respectful, obedient, submissive support for existing authorities and institutions."
"Authoritarian aggression," defined as "favoring the use of strict, tough, harsh, punitive, coercive social control."
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So the very things a majority of Americans find disconcerting, if not disqualifying, about Trumphis need to dominate, his thinly veiled white supremacism, and his blunt, bullying languageis precisely what appeals to his hardcore fans. They are very likely stand to by their man, whatever scandals might emerge.
That said, these results suggest Democrats have a decent chance of peeling away a different slice of the Republican-leaning electorateif they can defend liberal policies while embodying a more traditional respect for authority. Those "submission"-oriented voters don't have a natural affinity for Trump. They may prefer candidates who embody a traditional sense of dignitypeople they can feel comfortable looking up to.
more -
https://psmag.com/news/inside-the-minds-of-hardcore-trump-supporters
struggle4progress
(118,356 posts)Poiuyt
(18,130 posts)Blue Owl
(50,513 posts)n/t
TheBlackAdder
(28,222 posts)sakabatou
(42,176 posts)Buckeye_Democrat
(14,858 posts)I visited numerous message boards immediately after the 2016 election, and the Trump supporters mostly celebrated that liberals are crying rather than expressing any expectations of a better future under his leadership.
Since then, Ive repeatedly witnessed the same kind of behavior from various Trump-supporting coworkers. Their political views are always focused on Democrats and liberals, as if the world would be a paradise if only they were eliminated.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,494 posts)tRump and all those in his administration, plus a number of Rethugs in Congress and state houses, along with MANY corporate leaders.
In reflection, I've know all three types and there's a strain of fear, selfishness and self-absorption that runs through all.....
The first type is comprised mostly of old-time Republicans, most of which have this really weird mix of empathy mixed in with cruelty and xenophobia.
KY........